definition
strict definition
torii
A freestanding Japanese gateway of posts and beams marking an entrance, especially to a sacred Shinto space.
A torii is a freestanding Japanese gate formed by posts and beams, usually featuring an upper beam which curves downward in the middle and is covered by a small roof. It is traditionally used to designate the entrance to a sacred space, especially at a Shinto shrine.
The posts and upper beams frame the passage through the gateway. Its customary religious role marks entry to sacred space rather than supplying an enclosed room.
The freestanding post-and-beam form differs from a triumphal arch with an archway set into a massive rectangular structure.